Compass in instrument panels

[6266]

Sorry, very OT but ...

Condor is a simulation for gliding, and for to learn and to get better in gliding. Are there really pilots flying without compass IRL, so that they don't need it in Condor?

When I was much younger and flew IRL I never finished a xc flight (except my 50 km Silver C), because I never was on the planned track. Nearly 40 years later flying Condor without pda I learned, why I failed in that time: I ignored the compass. I learned that it is so easy when using it.

Today people are flying with flight computer (Condor 3 seems to me to be not longer a flight simulator, but a flight computer simulator). Do they trust it will work always?

It would be an interesting test what happens if in a race all flight computers will get out of work ... Such a training could save life IRL

[janjansen]

Are there really pilots flying without compass IRL,

I know plenty that would if it was allowed. But a magnetic compass is still mandatory afaik. I know people who have one thats ahmm.. shall we say, easily detachable, and not so long ago I 3d printed a mount for someone who didnt have room in his instrument panel, so we made something that drops in to a hole in his glareshield, showing only the top few cm of the compass



Technically, he still has a usable compass.

Aside from passing inspection, Its rather pointless though. Most planes have multiple GPS receivers and there is always a far superior lights-out backup navigation system in your pocket. If somehow all of that fails, you can still look outside, its not the end of the world if you are flying VFR. and not crossing an ocean.

[timbaeyens]

For most German motorised gliders, a compass is listed in the minimal equipment list.

[timbaeyens]

Are there really pilots flying without compass IRL,

I know plenty that would if it was allowed. But a magnetic compass is still mandatory afaik. I know people who have one thats ahmm.. shall we say, easily detachable, and not so long ago I 3d printed a mount for someone who didnt have room in his instrument panel, so we made something that drops in to a hole in his glareshield, showing only the top few cm of the compass



Technically, he still has a usable compass.

Aside from passing inspection, Its rather pointless though. Most planes have multiple GPS receivers and there is always a far superior lights-out backup navigation system in your pocket. If somehow all of that fails, you can still look outside, its not the end of the world if you are flying VFR. and not crossing an ocean.

This is the result in the Ventus 3...

[6266]

Thanks for the pictures and explanations. Could be a start to an interesting discussion, but missing minimum a beer for to do that ...
And as I wrote above it's very off topic to the thread

[Bre901]

I have created a new topic as this was really OT in the CoMoMap thread

[arneh]

I know plenty that would if it was allowed. But a magnetic compass is still mandatory afaik.

For some reason it is required if it's a glider with a motor, but not for pure gliders.
So I'm required to have a compass in my glider, but I never use it, and it's hidden away far down on the instrument panel, behind the stick, where I can't see it and I need to move my head to the side to see it.

A for losing power to my flight instruments, I can still use my phone for navigating. And most everywhere I fly I know the area so well, I'm pretty sure I could get home just by looking where I am and knowing where I need to go.

But I can understand if it was more necessary in the flatlands in old days with no GPS.

[6266]

...

[OXO]

Thread drift !!!!

[6266]

Thread drift !!!!

Unfortunately I can't translate that, and DeepL either

[EDB]

... the sun never shines in the North ...

Really..?
Try the Southern Hemisphere.

If you want to fly noPDA, then join VirtualSoaring Batoh.
https://virtualsoaring.eu/batoh?page=results

[6266]

If you want to fly noPDA, then join VirtualSoaring Batoh.
https://virtualsoaring.eu/batoh?page=results

Indeed, a very nice event, it has nearly everything I like. Could fly it one day and liked it. But unfortunately I can't Fridays

[congo]

Hi 6266,

If you were referring to the discussion in the other thread where the compass was
missing on the panel and there was a ground speed issue with CoMoMaps, yes,
Dave R. was experimenting with some minimalist racing panel options, I was
helping out with panel design, that's all. We aren't trying to change the minimum
equipment list in gliders or anything
I value the compass as basic equipment in R/L, but admittedly, they can be difficult
to use in rough air. Even so, the humble compass has come to the rescue a few times for me,
and I was very happy to have it.

congo

click to enlarge

[velaskez]

Are there really pilots flying without compass IRL, so that they don't need it in Condor?

Yup, that's me. Don't need it.

[drombach]

There are three basic methods of navigation for aircraft. Radio, pilotage and dead Reconning. We don't use VOR or ADF or GPS per se. so it's out. However, I can use on occasion, pilotage only, if I know the area or have a good chart. That goes for IRL especially. More often the pilotage and dead reconning are used together in power flying.

I may try to fly pilotage in Condor sometime to see how it does.